Nudity in Islam

1. Muhammad and Nudity
In Islam, it is unlawful to uncover the intimate parts of the body (or awrah).
Awrah or Awrat (Arabic: ‫ )عورة‬is a term used within Islam which denotes the intimate
parts of the body, for both men and women, which must be covered with clothing.
Exposing the awrah is unlawful in Islam and is regarded as sin. (Wikipedia)
The awrah of a man refers to the part of the body between the navel and the knees.
In Sunni* interpretations, the awrah of a man refers to the part of the body between the
navel and the knees which must be covered when in public and also during prayer.
(Wikipedia)
*Note: Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awrah
...............................................................................................................................................
.
We would therefore expect Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, to avoid uncovering
the intimate parts of his body in public, especially when he is supposed to serve as
an "example for Muslims*" to emulate.
*See also: The Perfect Man of Islam
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2010/12/perfect-man-of-islam.html
"‫"لقد كنان لكم ف ي رسلول الل أسلوة حسنة لم ن كنان يرجلو ا هَّ وا ف ْريلوم الخر وذكر الل كثريرا‬
ً" ِ ‫سَ سَ ف ْ سَ سَ سَ لوُ ف ْ ْسُأ ِ سَ لوُ ْسُأ ِ هَّ لوُ ف ْ سَ ل ٌ سَ سَ سَ ل ٌ ِّ سَ سَ سَ سَ ف ْ لوُ سَ سَ لسَ ف ْ سَ ف ْ ْسُأ ِ سَ سَ سَ سَ سَ هَّ سَ ْسُأ‬
َ‫س‬ ‫لل‬ ِ ‫ْسُأ‬
"Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who
hopes in Allah and the latter day and remembers Allah much."
Qur'an 33:21
...............................................................................................................................................
.
Yet Muhammad used to meet people... "with his thigh or his shank uncovered"!
Sahih Muslim 1866 ‫صحيح مسلم‬
‫أن عنائشة قنالت كنان رسلول الل صلى الل علريه وسلم مضطجعنا ف ي بريت ي كناشفنا ع ن فخذيه أو سناقريه فناستأذن أبلو بكر‬
‫فأذن له وهلو على تلك الحنال فتحدث ثم استأذن عمر فأذن له وهلو كذلك فتحدث ثم استأذن‬
http://hadith.al-islam.com/Page.aspx?pageid=192&BookID=25&PID=4486